Air circulating casing for planing machines



March 10, 1953 J. 5. BALLANTINE 2,630,846

AIR CIRCULATING CASING FOR PLANING MACHINES Filed Aug. 30, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l alswzpv/wmg was March 10, 1953 J. 5. BALLANTINE 2,630,846

AIR CIRCULATING CASING FOR PLANING MACHINES Filed Aug. 30, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 76 76 J/7ME5 s. BFLM/VW/YE,

ATTOR N EYS March 10, 1953 J. S. BALLANTINE AIR CIRCULATING CASING FOR PLANING MACHINES Filed Aug. 30, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ma mum ATTOR N EY5 Patented Mar. 10, 1953 AIR CIRCULATING CASING FOR PLANING MACHINES James S. Ballantine, Absecon, N.- J.

Application August 30, 1949, Serial No. 113,225

8 Claims.

This invention relates to planers and like devices and more particularly to planers equipped with a sealed casing and an air circulating system designed to prevent penetration of dirt, dust, chips, and the like into the driving mechanism.

In the operation of woodworking machines, such as planers, lathes and the like considerable dust and dirt is generated which gradually seeps into the machines collecting on gears, belts, motors and other parts of the driving mechanism. This results in considerable wear and undue heating of the driving mechanism which is particularly aggravated by the use of the usual types of lubricants. Hence it has become the practice to run the gears and other parts of the driving mechanism without lubricants in order to reduce the adverse efiects occasioned by dust, dirt nd the like.

A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a planer or like device in which the driving mechanism may be lubricated in the usual or any desirable manner without the adverse efiects and disadvantages usually encountered by the penetration of dust, dirt and the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a planer device in which the penetration of dust, dirt and the like into the driving mechanism thereof is substantially eliminated thereby reducing wear and breakdown with resulting economies of operation and maintenance.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a planer device in which the driving mechanism including the motors, gears, pulleys, belts and the like for rotating the cutter head and rolls is enclosed and made a part of a continuous closed circuit through which air under pressure is continuously circulated to prevent penetration of dust and dirt from the planing area as well as from the general rea surrounding the machine. An auxiliary object is the cooling of the driving mechanism by circulating a stream of air thereover.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a planer or like device in which the gears, belt and ulleys, sprockets and chains, motors and any other desired parts of the mechanism are segregated from the planing area in a closed circulatory path through which air is circulated under a slight positive pressure.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an air circulating system for planers and the like in which certain parts of the mechanism including the driving mechanism are isolated from the planing area in a closed circu- 2 latory path through which air is circulated under positive pressure to cool the mechanism and to prevent the penetration thereto of dust, dirt and the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a closed air circulating system for planers wherein the air circulation is produced by a suitable fan, blower or the like driven by one of the motors of the machine and wherein fresh air may enter the system, as needed, through a suitable screened inlet.

These and other objects and advantagesv of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a consideration of the attached drawings and annexed specification illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the invention with the cover removed to show the interior working mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device partly in section with the side door open to expose interior working parts;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the opposite side of the device with the side door open to expose interior working parts;

Fig. 4 is a broken vertical cross-sectional view of the device taken on the lines i--4 and 4a,-4a of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cover memher; and,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fresh air inlet and filter taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

In general the device of the present invention comprises a planer or like device in which the driving mechanism is substantially sealed off from the planing area and the exterior of the machine by enclosing it in suitable chambers or conduits forming parts of a closed circulating system. Air is circulated through the system and around the driving mechanism under a slight positive pressure thereby preventing the penetration of dust and dirt thereto and undue heating of the mechanism.

As illustrated herein the invention is shown as embodied in a planer device having spaced frame or partition members mounted on a base for carrying the cutting, feeding and driving mechanisms and a closed tunnel-shaped member connecting the frame members for housing the motors and electrical controls. The cutting and feeding mechanisms are mounted between the frame members in what is usually called the planing area. The driving mechanism is mounted outwardly of the frame members which are so constructed as to substantially eliminate penetration of dust and dirt therethrough from the planing area to the driving mechanism. Side doors and a cover are hinged to the frame members and in closed position form therewith and with the tunnel-shaped member the closed circulatory system mentioned above.

Referring now to the drawings the numeral I designates a planer having a cutter head pressure and guide rolls |2 and |3, chip breaker l4, and work table I5. The cutter head II is rotatably supported by shafts l6 and ll secured to the ends thereof and mounted in suitable bearings l8 and I9 carried by the side frame or partition members 20 and 2|. The rolls |2 and I3 are rotatably supported in a like manner by bearings 22 and 23 carried by the side frame members 20 and 2|.

The work table is movably mounted in suitable guides carried by the side frame members 20 and 2| and is vertically adjustable by a handwheel 24 on the front of the casing. Work, such as a board, plank, or the like to be planed, is fed to the device on the work table l5 which is suitably adjusted vertically with respect to the cutter head [I so that a cut of predetermined thickness will be taken from the work. The work table |5 may and usually is provided with suitable rollers (not shown) to facilitate movement of the work therealong. The gears, pulleys, and the like for rotating the cutter head H and the various rolls of the device are mounted on the ends of their respective shafts outwardly of the side frame members 20 and 2| and are thus separated and isolated from the planing areaby said frame menu bers. The motors for driving these various elements, together with the necessary electrical controls and the like, are mounted in a tunnel-like housing 25 which extends transversely of the machine adjacent the rear lower portion thereof. The housing 25 isolates the motors from the planing area but is open at the ends thereof for communication with the space outwardly of the frame members 26 and 2|.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 the cutter head II is rotated by a pulley 25, mounted on the shaft 21 of a motor 28, and driving the pulley 29, mounted on the end of shaft l6, through a belt drive 30. The various rolls of the device for feeding and guiding the work are rotated through suitable gears disposed outwardly of the frame members 20 and 2| and driven by a pulley and belt connection with a second motor 3|. Thus the rolls of the work table are rotated through the gears 32 and 33 (Fig. 2) mounted on the outer ends of the shafts 34 and 35 thereof and driven by the motor 3| through the train of gears indicated generally by the numeral 36. The train of gears 35 is suitably designed and arranged to permit vertical adjusting movement of the work table l5 as required for varying thicknesses of work passed through the device.

The rolls l2 and I3 are also driven by the motor 3| through a gear or sprocket 3'! (Fig. 3) mounted on a shaft 38 extending through the machine and having driving connection with the train of gears 36 previously mentioned. The sprocket 31 drives the rolls l2 and |3 through a chain 39 passing over the gears or sprockets 40 and Al mounted on the ends of the shafts 42 and 43 of the rolls.

From the above description it will be apparent that the gears, sprockets, pulleys, belts, chains, motors and the like, constituting the driving mechanism of the planer, are separated and isolated from the planing area by the side frame members 20 and 2| and the connecting tunnelshaped member 25.

The space outwardly of the frame members 20 and 2| is enclosed at the front, rear and bottom of the machine by flanges 45, 46 and Al which extend outwardly from the frame members adjacent the edges thereof into abutting relationship with similarly arranged inwardly extending flanges 43, 49 and 58 on the side doors 5| and 52. The side doors 5| and 52 are swingably mounted on hinges 53 and 54 secured to the flanges 45 and are adapted to be swung outwardly as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to permit access to the mechanisms mounted outwardly of the frame members 20 and 2|. The doors 5| and 52 are held in closed position by suitable latches 55 and 55.

From the description thu far it will be apparent that when the side doors 5| and 52 are in closed position they form with the flanges 45, 46 and 41 and the side frame members 20 and 2| laterally disposed chambers 51 and 58 which communicate with the tunnel-like housing 25 and with the cover member, as will be described hereinafter, but which are effectively sealed from the planing area and from the exterior of the machine so that dust, dirt and the like may not seep thereinto. If desired, additional sealing off of the chambers 51 and 58 may be obtained by disposing strips of suitable material such as felt or the like between the abutting edges of the flanges 55, 46 and 41 and the flanges 48, 49 and 50.

The chambers 5! and 58 are placed in communication with each other at their top portions through the cover member 60. The cover member 60 is hinged to the rear of the machine and comprises an inverted pan-like member 6| having a top 62, depending front and side walls 63, 64 and 65, and a sloping rear wall 66. Partition members 61 and 68 are connected to the front and rear walls adjacent each side of the cover to form side chambers 69 and in which are positioned directly over and in communication with the chambers 51 and 58 when the cover is in closed position. In the arrangement shown the lower edges of the partition members 61 and 68 are adapted to sealingly contact the upper edges of the frame members 20 and 2| and the lower edges of the side and portion of the front and rear walls of the cover are adapted to sealingly contact the upper edges of the flanges 45 and 41 and the top edges of the side doors 5| and 52 to seal the chambers 51, 58, 69 and 10 from the planing area and from the exterior of the casing.

The chambers 69 and in are placed in communication through a conduit H formed in the cover member 60 and communicating at the ends thereof with openings 12 and 13 formed in the partition members 67 and 68. Thus a closed sealed circulatory system is formed which includes the tunnel-like housing 25, the chambers 57, 58, 69 and i0, and the conduit H.

In accordance with the present invention air under pressure is circulated through the system by a fan M of any suitable type which may desirably be mounted on the shaft 21 of the motor 28 inwardly of the pulley 26. Alternatively the blades of the fan 14 or similar type of blades may be mounted directly on the pulley 26 so as to constitute a fan member which may be satisfactorily used to circulate the air. Rotation of s the fan 14 draws air from the tunnel-like housing 25 and forces it through the chambers 51 and 69, conduit 1 l, and chambers and 58, back into the housing 25 under a slight positive pressure, 7

the like into the system is effectively prevented.

This permits the use of any desired type of lubricant thereby increasing efficiency and reducing wear.

Fresh air is admitted to the ystem through an opening disposed in the rear wall of the housing 25 adjacent the suction side of the fan and serves to replenish any air which leaks out of the system so as to maintain the desired slight positive pressure. An air filter 15 is disposed in the opening 15 to remove dust, dirt and the like from the entering air and may desirably comprise a fibrous filtering element ll of glass wool or the like coated with a suitable material such as tricresyl phosphate to which the dust will adhere. The filtering element 11 may be retained between foraminous screens or the like 18 and 19 mounted in a frame 80, the latter being held in place in the opening 15 in any suitable manner.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a novel and effective means for maintaining the driving mechanism of planers and similar devices free of dust and dirt thereby increasing the effectiveness and useful life of such machines and substantially reducing the possibility of breakdowns.

Various modifications of the invention described and illustrated will most likely occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is indicated in the attached claims.

I claim:

1. In a planing machine having a horizontal planing table, coacting cutting and feeding elements and driving mechanism for said elements, means for substantially sealing said driving mechanism from said cutting and feeding elements so as to prevent penetration of dust and dirt thereto, comprising partition means separating said driving mechanism from said cutting and feeding elements, and hollow casing means associated with aid partition means and in combination therewith forming a pressure compartment enclosing said driving mechanism so as to prevent penetration of dust and dirt thereto and means for maintaining said pressure compartment under air pressure.

2. In a planing machine having a horizontal planing table, coacting cutting and feeding elements and driving mechanism for said elements, means for preventing the penetration of dust, dirt and the like to the driving mechanism comprising a base member, vertical partition means mounted on said base member and separating the driving mechanism from the cutting and feeding elements, casing means associated with said vertical partition means enclosing said driving mechanism in a closed circulatory pressure system substantially sealed against the penetration of dust and dirt, and means for continuously circulating air under pressure through said circulatory system and over and around said driving mechanism.

' '3. In a planing machine having a horizontal planing table, coacting cutting and feeding elements and driving mechanism for said elements, means for substantially sealing said driving mechanism from said cutting and feeding ele- 'ments so as to prevent penetration of dust and dirt thereto, comprising vertical partition means separating said driving mechanism from said cutting and feeding elements, a side door hinged to said partition means and enclosing the driving mechanism in a substantially sealed pressure chamber, and means for continuously circulating air under pressure through said pressure chamber over and around said driving mechanism.

4. In a planing machine having a horizontal planing table, coacting cutting and feeding elements and driving mechanism for said elements, said driving mechanism including drive gearings located on both sides of the planing table, means for sealing said driving mechanism from said cutting and feeding elements so as to prevent penetration of dust and dirt thereto, comprising vertical partition means on both sides of the planing table separating the respective drive gearings from said cutting and feeding elements, hollow side doors hinged to said partition means and enclosing the drive gearings in sealed chambers, a hollow cover member hinged to said frame members above the planing table and having a passage therein communicating with said chambers, a tunnel-shaped member connecting said partition members below the planing table and communicating with said chambers to form therewith and with the passage in said cover member a closed circulatory pressure system, and air circulating means for continuously circulating air under a slight positive pressure through said circulatory system over and around said drive gearings.

5. A planing machine as set forth in claim 4 in which the air circulating means comprises a fan mounted on the shaft of a driving mechanism motor disposed in the tunnel-shaped memher.

6. A planing machine as set forth in claim 5 including a fresh air inlet disposed in said tunnel-shaped member adjacent the suction side of said fan and having a filtering element disposed therein to remove dust and dirt from the entering air.

7. A planing machine as set forth in claim 4 in which the passage between the chambers is housed by a conduit in the cover member located adjacent one end of the machine and the tunnelshaped member is located adjacent the opposite end of the machine.

8. In a planing machine having planing mechanism including a horizontal planing table and cutting and work manipulating rotary rolls, all said planing mechanism being located in an open planing space, solid vertical partition walls located on opposite sides of said planing mechanism, rotary drive shafts for some of said rolls projecting outwardly through the partition on one side of said planing mechanism through close fitting shaft opening and rotary drive shafts for others of said rolls projecting outwardly through the partition on the opposite side of the planning mechanism through close fitting shaft openings, drive gearings at the outer sides of the respective partitions for the respective roll drive shafts, motor means for driving said gearings, hollow casing members located on opposite sides of the planing mechanism and forming with the respective partitions side presthe planing mechanism and having an air passage therein communicating with both said side pressure chambers, a hollow lower casing housing said motor means located below the planing mechanism, said lower casing communicating with both said side pressure chambers and forming therewith and with said air passage in the top casing member a closed air recirculating pressure system, and air circulating means adapted to circulate air under pressure through said pressure system in continuous cyclic flow.

JAMES S. BALLAN'I'INE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,833,785 Krieger Nov. 24, 1931 1,885,912 Bohnet Nov. 1, 1932 1,987,410 Moore Jan. 8, 1935 2,246,761 Saliba et a1. June 24, 1941 2,484,685 Burdick Oct. 11, 1949 2,502,907 Welte Apr. 4, 1950 2,506,455 Jackson May 2, 1950 

